To the "Ubiquitous List", you must add Pittosporum "Wheeler's Dwarf", used extensively as ground cover, to the absolute delight of mice who adore eating the cambium layer and girdling the stems so large chunks die out of the centers; Euonymous in every mildewy shade and shape; Escalonia, virtually always kept sheared within an inch of its life so you never know what color the blamed things FLOWER; and my all time "hate with a purple passion plant", Dietes grandiflora. Guaranteed to always look ratty and nasty, much worse and more of an eyesore than any type of out of place Liriope or Lily Turf. Dietes are made even more obscene when sheared and pruned into cubes by City "gardeners". At least the agapanthus don't self seed everywhere like the bloody Dietes do. An elderly friend had spent time in South Africa and Australia and had become enchanted with the "most exotic looking tropical" he encountered everywhere. He tried describing it (NOT a plant person), but I figured the best way was to take him to the nursery so he could see if he could point it out. Yup, Dietes grandiflora! He wanted his front planters "updated", and it thrilled him immensely when I produced gallon after gallon of the awful things from the local Home Depot for $3 a piece. At least they are something he CAN'T kill! But, then, that is why ALL of these things are ubiquitous, NO ONE can kill them. Have you other Southern Californians noticed how the huge stands of Bird of Paradise which used to grow in every yard have seemed to disappear? I see them in older areas, but they are conspicuous in their absence in many neighborhoods. Kim

Hi - I agree with the folks that Imidacloprid is the way to go. I don't know if it was mentioned, but they could also be hanging out in the soil and root systems, in which case a good systemic is your best best. 2TBS per gallon is reasonable - I have even had success with 1TBS per gallon if I was concerned about the plant. I have been told, though I have never personally witnessed a definitive relationship, that use of Imidacloprid may make plants more susceptible to spider mites. I am not sure why or how...but it just may be something to watch for. Good luck. Tom

Hey did use the buttermilk and flour. I was a little skeptic. I used it Friday, it rained Friday night and Saturday. It did kill the mites. What dried on my arm hair was very hard to get off without water. I saw some over spray on the side of my truck. It would not rub off. I know it will with water and soap. It did not bother my mantis. So for Less than $ 5.00 I sprayed and entire acre. I like it and will use it again. Will it kill the eggs as was stated the jury is out on this also. I did run into a product which I want to try. It is wilt-pruf. I was googling how do spider mites migrate. It seems they use their webbing and air to recolonize elsewhere. I ran into a rose site where they were having mite problems. They used wilt-pruf and it stopped the infestations and it did not come back. Well a little research showed it it be an effective product to stop plants from wilting in the sun and allow transplants in the summer without total defoliation. So if I were to hypothesize it may put a thick enough protective coating on the plant that mites will not bother it. Mites are very selective in what they invade. I imagine a lot has to do with cell structure and the ability to get nutrients. Brugs transpire as much as any plant I know of and have very thin walled leaves. I would make my life easier. I need to find some today and try it. It might also allow some of my mis planted brugs to survive the summer without a replant. I will let yall (Texan) know what is the outcome of the buttermilk and wilt-pruf trial. Here is my little bakery with a new pump. I sprayed at about 80 PSI to make sure it flipped the bottom of the leaves up. Jim

Red Easter Cacti As of Today 30/03/18My White is Budding Up Nicely As Well.....